User Reviews

Overall Rating:

Value Rating:

Submitted by
Matthew Collins

Date Reviewed: June 19, 2013

Strengths: Classic looks. Very rideable. Smooth

Weaknesses: Plastic headlamp will crack

Bottom Line:

Bought mine in 2000. Been riding it ever since! The multi speed nexus hub makes it very versatile. Towed a kid trailer for 5 years. I have well over 1000 miles on this bike and never had a problem with it. Its a classis looking bike that you can use. Tackles all but the steepest hills. Springer front makes the ride smooth. The front end will need adjusting every couple years as the components work loose but its nothing to snug things up. 7 speed hub has never given me trouble. The hub has never been overhauled and its been 13 years. Love it!

Strengths: Definately the looks! The paint and style is a real head turner. Smooth shifting, comfortable seat, and rack for carrying small items.

Weaknesses: Plastic fender light. Keeps blowing the bulb.

Bottom Line:

Awesome bike! Everywhere I ride, people stop to look at the bike and marvel at its beauty. Kids want me to beep the horn, and old folks recollect having a bike very similar when they were kids. Very smooth and comfortable, and having seven gears makes long rides very easy, even if the elevation changes.

Strengths: As noted, the styling for the Deluxe 7 is definitely a tribute to Schwinn’s balloon cruisers of the mid to late 1950s. Moreover, in a community that coined the term “Beach Cruiser,” the Deluxe 7 definitely stands out from the myriad of bikes available.

The Nexus Internal 7 speed hub makes the heavy bicycle a breeze to ride and the wide seat with springs make long rides comfortable. The aforementioned makes this Schwinn a cruiser and not a bicycle built for speed.

Weaknesses: The frame scallops and tank details are decals and not painted which will likely yellow over time. Also, the Phantom headlight is plastic rather than cast metal like the originals and will likely require replacement should the bike fall off its stand accidentally.

Bottom Line:

I knew I wanted to own a 2006 Schwinn Deluxe 7 the first time I saw one in person. The pictures online and in catalogs do not do the bicycle justice. With its cantilever frame, springer fork and Schwinn Phantom styling cues, it is truly a throw back to the balloon bikes of the 1950’s with modern technology in the use of the Nexus Internal 7-speed hub. At first sight most believe it is a restored original until they look closely at the handle bar mounted Revo Shifter and cables that lead to the rear hub.

Nearly everyone that sees the Schwinn parked asks to “toot” the horn enclosed in the Phantom style tank and usually turn on the light fastened to the front fender.

Bike Setup: All of the vintage Schwinn accessories collected over the years fit the Deluxe 7 without modification as I have added a transistor radio holder, Phantom rear light and chrome crash bars to the seat and rear frame.

Weaknesses: No back light.
Rust rust rust becouse of poor material, exept rims and spokes (the bike is always indoors! and almost only used on a sunny day)
Squeaking saddle and front suspension.
Paint damages very fast and rus appears directly.
Poor production of the fenders.
Front brakes of low quality.
Front light: very poor beam, battery life, total design won't last long.

Bottom Line:

Best looks for a standard cruiser and comes with a 7 speed hub.
Very low material quality. This bike will lose its beauty very fast.
I only bought this bike because of the looks an the 7 speed hub.
Do not buy it when you want quality.